Request sent to RTÉ DG today

I write further to a report in today’s Irish Times headlined “RTÉ to offer free TV news to Ireland’s newspaper websites”.

I note that the report states that RTE intends to licence television news reports at no cost to all members of the National Newspapers of Ireland grouping for a trial period of six months.

I am the owner of an Irish website, www.tuppenceworth.ie and a licence fee payer. I am also a practicing solicitor.

I would be grateful if you would include me in any correspondence relating to this proposal with a view to providing Tuppenceworth.ie with at least equal access to RTÉ’s archive material to that offered to the members of the NNI.

I would raise a concern at a restriction regarding the use of this material as reported in the Irish Times; “Material… Could not be re-edited”.

I would be grateful if you could outline the rationale for such a restriction on the use of Public Service broadcasting by the public who (part) fund its creation.

Finally, congratulations on this first step to loosening the restrictions over the use of the RTÉ archive by 3rd parties. Its cultural significance cannot be overstated.

[…] the free service and continue to push for restrictions on RTÉ’s operations). Inspired by Simon McGarr’s attempt to be covered under the offer I would suggest that much RTÉ content should be made available for use, in non-commercial […]